Hold on to your socks, because it’s officially the first day of summer – hurray! It’s time to put away all of those layers and so-called in-between ‘transition’ pieces and bring out your shorts, flip flops, and tanks in preparation for the glorious abundance of heat that this season brings.

However, what do you do with your socks, specifically your Friday Socks? We have news for you - socks are in this summer, but not just any socks, mismatched ones. That’s right! They are this season’s must-have accessory that will give your feet a break from those dreadfully bland white knee-highs that your Grandma just loves to buy you. They will provide your look with the pop of colour that it’s been missing since the tie-die craze of the 90’s – in a less tacky and florescent way of course.

They will allow you to bring your usual street wear up a notch by playing with different colours and textures, and allowing your feet to play a leading role in determining your summer 2017 style. From a casual Sunday bike ride, to a cocktail bar on a Friday night, your mismatched calf-huggers can be dressed up or down to suit the occasion and will have you standing out in any crowd.

The key: choosing the right pair the both contrasts and compliments your look at the same time – easy peasy!

Not sure where to get started? Here are 8 trendy ways for both men and women to wear Friday Socks this summer that you simply can’t miss out on!

Business casual with a twist

If you’re working in the corporate world of 9-5, there is generally not a ton of flexibility to play around with personal style. Interject this cookie cutter look, by throwing a subtle explosion of colour on your ankles that will tie your outfit together, catch the eye and insert some life into your daily humdrum attire. There is nothing like a pair of burger and fries socks to cheer up the office on a dreary Monday morning!

Skirt + socks + heels

Yes ladies, we said it! According to Vogue, even Kylie Jenner is adapting this funky style that shocked the runways last year. If heels really aren’t your thing, a pair of Adidas Superstars are perfectly acceptable for a more Athleisure look. We have cupcake, watermelon, floral and even cat socks that will take your outfit from drab to fab. If Kylie validated it, it’s got to be the next hottest trend right?

Knee high joggers

That’s right; yank those socks up real high, because this 80’s workout trend is back! Whether you’re at the gym, or for a brisk run in the great outdoors, this is probably one of the most practical, comfiest and fashionable decisions you’ll make all summer. We even have football or bike themed socks for extra motivation!

Dress for the occasion

Whether you’re attending the Calgary Stampede, Canada Day or Ride Your Bike to Work Day, always arrive in style and dressed to the nines. This is a fun way to subtly incorporate the motif of the festivities into your attire, while adding your individual stamp to the dress code.

Socks and Sandals

Despite the many debates, socks and sandals are officially on the “cool” end of the fashion spectrum. However, there is still a fine line that you have to watch out for between the safari Sam and the tacky tourist faux pas - neither of these are looks you want to emulate. Instead take this practical style and turn it into a chic and playful look that will be sure to catch people’s attention and show off your toned calves.

Day of the week socks

In the 90’s we did underwear, now we have moved on to socks! However, rather than being labeled for each individual day, it’s up to you how you want to label them. Try taco Tuesday, Caffeinated Monday, Donut Friday, Adventure Saturday, Travel Tuesday –whatever gets you through the week!

Match your current craving

Everyone has their favourite comfort food so what better than to add it into your personal style! Acknowledge current colour trends and elevate your look by trying a pair of timeless burger and fries, pancakes and maple syrup, or Ice Cream Popsicle socks. You can even encourage healthy habits by wearing our veggie sock design – 100% gluten free by the way.

Dress up a pair of loafers and trousers

The English were on to something when they invented these two mainstay fashion items, but they were missing one thing – colour! Generally both of these staples are not cheap, so instead of breaking the bank on various shades of brown trousers, mix-it-up with a different colour ankle grazer and make that the vocal point of your look. You’ll be the most dapper one in the room – we promise.

Friday socks are made to put a smile on your face when go to wear them, hence the hilarious and relatable mismatched designs that we are continually coming up with! However, we want the quality of our socks to go beyond the fabric and not only be comfortable but make a positive impact on everyone they come in contact with.

As we all begin to become more educated on the environment and the huge imprint that us humans are making on it, people are beginning to question how and where their things are coming from. It’s no secret these days that the fast fashion industry has patterns of toxic over-consumption, using practices that are harmful to small communities and this beautiful planet that we live on. Mindless materialism is unintentional, but a choice that is made on a daily basis that unfortunately has a major impact internationally.

With this increased awareness, consumers are becoming more conscious of their decisions, which are forcing popular brands to rethink their approach and adopt more sustainable habits. Since fashion is known to be a mirror to what is going on in the world around us, it's only natural that labels, such as Asos Eco Edit, New Balance, H&M, Patagonia and so many more, are incorporating this green way of thinking into their companies and designs.

Here at the Friday HQ, we do our best to abide by these sustainable practices and participate in the ethical fashion movement. For us, it’s important to know that from the time the yarn is harvested to the final moment when our socks are purchased, that we are supporting everyone every step of the way and that our socks are doing good, rather than harming the world in some way shape or form.

Not sure what ethical fashion even is? The International Ethical Fashion Forum defines it as “an approach to the design, sourcing, and manufacturing of clothing, which maximizes the benefits to people and communities while minimizing the impact on the environment.” AKA its fashion that respects both people and the environment within the entire product cycle.

Here are just a few ways that, here at Friday, we are committed to providing a product which is both socially and environmentally conscious!

Friday Socks are made with OEKOTEX® Certified materials: this means that every fiber that our socks are made of are tested on an international standard to ensure that there are no harmful chemicals, substances or colours at every stage of production. Learn more about our certified yarn here!

Manufactured at a family-run factory: Friday proudly supports a 3rd generation sock producer in Northern Italy and in January had the amazing opportunity to visit and get to know the people behind the seams of our socks. There, they knit each sock with love and care, while using processes that are respectful of the environment and provide their workers with safe, clean and healthy working conditions. Everyone was so friendly and by the end of our visit, we felt like we were a part of their family. Stay tuned for more details of our visit in a future post!

Giving back to the local YYC community: this is something that is of huge importance to us, so we regularly donate socks that we are not going to be selling or using to organizations, such as the Mustard Seed and the Calgary Drop In Centre. We also make it a priority to work with different non-for-profits to create collaborations that will benefit their cause.